Muncie schools consider deep budget cuts

By Joy Leiker, Star Press

jleiker@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE -- Refrigerators. Textbooks. Summer school. Health insurance. Classroom aides. School newsletters.

All could be transformed under the latest proposal to cut millions from Muncie Community Schools' bottom line.

Associate Supt. Mark Burkhart prepared a list of cuts that would affect every school and staff member at some level. As of this week that list is estimated to save almost $2.9 million from the general fund, plus $2.3 million from the capital projects, transportation and bus replacement funds.

If those estimates are accurate, they would fill the gaps of the cuts needed for 2010.